With
a simple announcement of “Ladies and gentlemen, John Hiatt
and Lyle Lovett,” the two men strode out to center stage,
taking their seats beside one another. Hiatt commenced the
music with his “My Old Friend,” and then Lovett followed with
“Private Conversation,” putting in place the back-and-forth
that was the format for the 20-song set. One man played and
sang while the other listened along with the audience. There
were clearly unexpected turns in the choice of material, as
each man would respond to what had just transpired.

The character
of the evening was further informed by their between-song
conversation. While aware of the audience, and in a broader
presentation mode, they were speaking to each other, much
like what transpires on a talk show. The talk-show comparison
is given further weight since Lovett was seated to Hiatt’s
right, thereby giving the former the traditional “couch” position
and the latter “the desk.” Hiatt also had the Carson/Letterman/
Kimmel/etc. role of keeping the conversational momentum going
or filling in a silence. However, that’s not to say Lovett
was lacking in that realm; it’s more that the two men are
a study in contrasts in every regard. Hiatt was quick to speak,
sometimes offering up words he’d have reeled at least partway
back in. Lovett used silences to pull the audience in, to
surprise with what finally did come out.

Musically
they are a study in contrasts as well. Hiatt’s bluesy gruffness
uses volume for emphasis, as does his guitar strumming. A
couple of his songs were so wedded to their original band
settings that they felt like they were referencing those records
rather than fully recasting them in solo acoustic mode. But
hearing him solo is also a reminder of how complete a narrative
he can weave into a few verses, as he does with “Drive South”
and “Tennessee Plates.”

Lovett
uses less volume and fewer words. “L.A. County” floats by,
its murder balladry slipping into your house and going to
sleep on your couch, while “If I Had a Boat” uses just a handful
of Dr. Seuss-approved words. Lovett’s vocals, sung over fingerpicked
guitar, are so smoothly inviting that the lyrics he’s singing
often hit with unexpected surprise and occasional sly dashes
of obliquely juxtaposed phrases and ideas.

It may
also be worth noting (meaning, it is to me) that Lovett and
Hiatt may well be the only touring duo who both have last
names ending with double Ts.